Mumbai: No Ramp, Milan Subway to Shut During Rains

The important Milan Subway will have to be shut down after heavy showers this monsoon due to the absence of the elevated ramp that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation usually places on one of its two lanes every year.

The Mumbai Traffic Police denied permission to the civic body for the same stating that it becomes an obstruction for vehicular movement on dry days. The area has been plagued by waterlogging after every downpur due to technical failures in the Irla pumping station that usually drains out water from the area.

An official from the BMC's storm water drainage department (SWD) said the one-metre-high metal ramp requires about ten days to be set up. A traffic police official said the BMC delayed seeking permission from the traffic police because of which the NOC was denied. "They came to us barely two days before the onset of the monsoon. At such a time if it rains heavily and one lane is blocked due to work on building the ramp, it can cause heavy traffic congestion," said the official.

On Saturday, when the western suburbs recorded a maximum of 160 mm of rainfall, the low-lying Milan Subway, connecting Santacruz East to Santacruz west was water logged and had to be shut. A BEST bus had broken down in the subway due to the water.

Western zone's Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Mirza Baig said there was no need to have a ramp at all. "Except for a few days during monsoon when the high-tide coincides with heavy rain, traffic movement at Milan Subway is smooth. Only during those days, the subway has to be closed for a few hours," said Baig.

SWD deputy chief engineer Mutalik Desai said the elevated lane makes it difficult for BEST buses to take the stretch and they have to change their normal routes. "Moreover, the permission was denied since the Mumbai Traffic Police told us that the Milan Subway flyover will be soon thrown open to the public. This has got delayed, but still the permission for the ramp was not given," said Desai.